Quick little car. Handles very well.
I had a go of my sister's blue 197 Cup earlier. It's got the optional Recaro seats which grip you really well in the corners. I'm glad I've shed 5 stone(!) otherwise there'd be a bit of a problem fitting them... It's also got a different front splitter.
I chucked it down a twisty back road and it just soaked it up. Brakes are fabulous.
If chopped SWMBO's boggo Clio in for a 197 in the same colour, do you think she'd notice?
:D Do it anyway! It's a brilliant little hot hatch.
Only downside I can see is it's a bit VTECcy in that all the power is up at the top end, I didn't think there was that much low down grunt. That's where my old 225 had an advantage, it was torquey from lower down so I think it was more useable in-gear.
But, view out of the rear is better than the Megane, those Recaros are lovely, and I thought is was more spacious in the front. The driving position was perfect.
It's hard to say which was better; if you don't need the rear space I think the Clio has it.
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